HISTORYHistorians believe that the earliest people who settled on the island of Panay were tribal Negritos or Atis. Oral history, related as the legend of Maragtas, states that in 1212, ten Malay datus escaped persecution from Sri-Vishaya, a Hindu-Malay empire that existed at that time in Borneo and Sumatra. These datus, led by Datu Puti, sailed with their families and communities from Borneo northward and landed on Panay. There they met the Negrito chieftain Marikudo and his wife Maniwangtiwan. They bought the island from the chieftain for a golden saduk (headpiece or helmet), and a golden necklace, given to his wife, among other gifts. The Negritos then retreated to the mountains, while the Borneans settled in the lowlands. Today, the landing is commemorated every year in Antique during the Binirayan festival. The island of Panay was then divided into three sakups (districts). These are Hantik, Aklan, and Irong-Irong. Aklan became the present-day Aklan and Capiz, Irong-Irong became Iloilo, and Hantik (also called Hamtik or Hamtic) became Antique. Hantik was named for the large red ants found on the island called lantik-lantik. The sakup of Hantik was given to Datu Sumakwel, one of the ten datus, and who, according to tradition, was the oldest and wisest of them. The three sakups were later governed as a political unit called the Confederation of Madia-as, also under Datu Sumakwel. Datu Sumakwel founded the town of Malandog, considered to be the first Malay settlement in the country. Malandog is now a barangay in the present-day municipality of Hamtic, which was named after the historic sakup. In 1942, the Japanese Imperial forces landed in Antique and occupied the province during the Second World War. In 1945, Philippine Commonwealth forces of the 6th Infantry Regiment of the Philippine Constabulary under the U.S. military command (1941-1942, 1944-1946) together with recognized local guerrillas defeated the Japanese troops and liberated the province. The History. In the 13th century, oral tradition has it that Datu Puti, a chieftain during the Shri-Vishaya / Majapahit Empire, together with nine other datus, among them Sumakwel, Bangkaya, Paiburong and their respective followers, left Borneo to escape persecution from Makatunao, the wicked ruler of the empire. They first landed in Sinugbuhan, San Joaquin, Iloilo along the western shores of Panay Island. Shortly thereafter, they succeeded in bartering the island from a friendly Negrito king, Marikudo, , for one �sadok�- a native head gear - of gold and a golden necklace for the king's wife, Maniwan-tiwan. Datu Sumakwel was then installed as the chief ruler of Panay. He established a settlement in a place now called Malandog, a barangay in the town of Hamtic. The population growth that followed enabled the settlers to occupy almost all of the lowlands, forcing the aborigines to live in the hinterlands. The whole island was divided into three political units called �sakops�, namely Hamtic (Antique), Aklan and Irong-irong (Iloilo). Datus Sumakwel, Bangkaya ang Paibu�rong headed these �sakops�, respectively. The Spaniards first reached Panay as early as the time of Legaspi in 1571. From Iloilo, where they had first established themselves in Panay Island, the Spaniards spread out until they virtually had the entire island under their control. However, it was not until about the end of the sixteenth century that the Spaniards began to exert influence on the islands. Like the rest of the Visayas during the 16th and 17th centuries, Antique was plundered by Moro pirates. So often and so costly were their incursions into Antique�s coastal towns that it became necessary to build a fort near each town of the province and maintain small garrisons there. The first official recognition of Antique as a separate political unit came in 1796 when it was created into a political and military province by virtue of a Spanish Royal Order. The town of Hamtic (formerly spelled Hantik after a big ant) was its first capital. Later the provincial government was moved to Bugasong (formerly spelled Bugasoni) and for a while the province was often called by that name. In 1802, the capital was transferred to San Jose de Buenavista where it has remained up to now. Towards the close of 1899, the Spaniards left the whole island, The institution of American authority over the islands and the subsequent establishment of peace and order in Panay led to the advent of a civil government in Antique on April 13, 1901. |